The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Sara Ford- Quill Staff
On Wednesday, July 7, the Henderson County Fair was bustling as people flocked to the fairgrounds to enjoy the various attractions.
The rides were beginning to start for the evening, the seniors were busy serving as fair-goers lined up at the food tent, and Bank of Stronghurst employees were manning their posts at the gates to pass out tickets for Family Night.
This year, however, Family Night saw a new activity at the grandstand that attracted viewers (and players) young and old. Eighteen teams were signed up and ready to play Mud Volleyball in a double-elimination tournament that was sponsored by The Antiquity in Stronghurst.
The games were set to begin at 6:00 p.m. with sign-in being held from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the grandstand.
Before the event took place, some teams could be seen donning uniforms, which varied from tank tops, to t-shirts, to smocks. Those who played volleyball were also required to wear shoes during the tournament and in order to ensure that they stayed on, duct tape was used to secure them in place. Shoes were necessary to protect feet from any glass or metal that was present in the mud. One team, however, was disqualified for not wearing shoes during the tournament.
During the tournament, teams bumped, set, and hit the ball to the best of their ability, all the while in a foot of mud. It made for quite a few funny spills and falls as well. When I watched other teams play first, it didn't look too hard to play in the mud. Once I got out there, however, your feet just got trapped in the mud and you could hardly move at all.
These falls, however, were sometimes met with the various pieces of glass and metal which left several players with a few scratches and cuts, none of which stopped anyone from returning to the courts.
As well as falling in the mud during play, several players believed that if we were in the mud, everyone ought to get dirty. Therefore, after matches, it was not unusual for players to push and shove each other into the mud, covering each other even more.
All night long, mud-covered people walked around or sat around waiting for their next chance on the court, all the while leaving trails of mud on the ground and bleachers.
When teams finished playing, several attempted to clean up a little bit. Many players found it especially difficult to get the mud out of their hair and clothes with one girl having to wash her hair nine times to get all of the mud out.
No matter where anyone tried to clean up, however, the water was very cold, and the chilly night air only made it colder.
As teams were eliminated throughout the evening, the championship game finally got underway and lasted until around 10:45 p.m.
The winners of the tournament received a $250 prize and a trophy that acknowledged their accomplishment.
The mud volleyball tournament made for an enjoyable evening for viewers and players alike this year and is sure to be a big hit at the fair in coming years as well.
When asked about the tournament, Queen contestant Olivia Crandall remarked, "It was fun and I hope we have it again next year."
I'm sure several members of the public agree.
The Muddy Winners
Henderson County Fair Mud Volleyball Tournament first place winners are from left: Chris Vermillion, Leslie Symmonds, Audra Brookhart, Wes Clark, Chris Winters, Jesse Winters, Trish Renken, and Valerie Burg